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Whether you are singing out of tune, falling in love, or breastfeeding your baby, you can get by with a little help from your friends! Being a new parent is not easy, and the breastfeeding relationship is part of that. Finding a support group or friends group can help you have a more successful breastfeeding relationship. How can you benefit from being with other lactating families?

Information - There is an plethora of information out there, but sometimes we need to hear it face-to-face. Reading about issues and how to fix them online can seem like it will help, but it is often too much information. By discussing it with other parents you will be more able to figure out the cause and solution to your issues, or know when it’s appropriate to seek professional assistance.

Support - Sometimes we just need someone to say, “You can do this. You’re doing great.” Parenting is the toughest job in the world, and when we are surrounded by other people doing the same job, telling us we can do this, it gives us the confidence to continue.

Experience - We can learn from the experience of other parents. Support groups are usually a mix of people with infants and those who also have older children. Their experiences can help us come up with solutions to issues, as well as help us see that other people go through the same stages, and there is light at the end of the tunnel. As my Grandfather used to say, “This too shall pass.”

Camaraderie - According to the Oxford Pocket Dictionary, camaraderie is “mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together.” Although information, support, and experience are all essential aspects of a support group, over the years I have found camaraderie to be the most important tool in new parents’ lives. The trust and friendship you build with other parents can be some of the most vulnerable and rewarding friendships in your lives. The experience of becoming a parent is like no other, and when you share that with a group of people, they may become your lifeline, the friends who understand you the most, and the people you trust with your struggles, fears, and joys of parenting.

Even for people for whom breastfeeding comes easily and may not need professional support, a parent-to-parent support group can make a big difference in their parenting journey, especially that first year. While most communities have formal support groups, an informal group of parents going through the same stages may also be just what you need. Check your local facebook groups and parenting sites for peer support groups. I’d love to have you join me at our Breastfeeding Support Group. All lactating parents and their babies are welcome. It’s an opportunity to get out in the evening, whether you work outside the home or in the home, and you get the best of both worlds - professional advice and support from other parents!Breastfeeding Support Group1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30pmWellsview Cottage, AnnapolisCheck the Lactation Life website and/or Facebook page for up-to-date changes